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Home > Bangkok > Bridge on the River Kwai and Thailand-Burma Railway Tour
Bridge on the River Kwai and Thailand-Burma Railway Tour
USD $68.00

Bridge on the River Kwai and Thailand-Burma Railway Tour

Bangkok, Thailand

Kanchanaburi's famous Bridge on the River Kwai and the beginning of the Death Railway is a poignant reminder of the thousands of POW's and forced laborers who lost their lives in the Second World War. This full day guided tour from Bangkok also includes a visit to the war museum and the opportunity to ride a local train.

Fascinating, nostalgic and memorable sums up this full day tour to Kanchanaburi, 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of Bangkok. The province itself is an agricultural area with sugar cane, rice paddies and pineapple plantations all forming significant portions of the stunning Thai rural landscape. Whether a war buff or rail enthusiast, everyone has a different reason to see this symbolic bridge.

The famous bridge and the beginning of the 'Death Railway', which lies 1 mile outside the town of Kanchanaburi, is a poignant reminder of the thousands of POW's and forced laborers who lost their lives in the Second World War. The building of the bridge in 1943 was one part of a huge Japanese wartime project to link existing Thai and Burmese railway lines to create a direct route from Bangkok, Thailand to Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) in an effort to support the Japanese occupation of Burma. Thousands of POW's and laborers died in the process. During your tour a visit will be made to one of the Allied War Grave cemeteries (often an emotional experience) before visiting the JEATH war museum, which houses pictures and paintings from this period.

An exhilarating long tailed speed boat ride will then take you down river to the famous bridge itself where you have ample time to explore at your own leisure. A ride on a local train is also included before returning to Bangkok city.

USD $68.00
Traveler Reviews
Review by:   Lars B,    May 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
train ride was fun
 

Review by:   Keith C,    May 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Cool tour - had some of the best food during lunch.
 

Review by:   sandra_brice1979,    April 2018 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
Having left our hotel at 6.30 in the morning I really expected to spend a bit more time at the bridge we were there 10 to 15 minutes before we boarded the train, having paid the extra to guarantee a seat. The train then took us to the middle of nowhere, where we disembarked to eat at a pre arranged restaurant. Not sure how long the food had been sitting there waiting for us to arrive. We then had a very long coach journey back. Overall I am glad I went to see this and the war cemeteries, just think the day could be organised better especially considering the traffic in Bangkok. Maybe the sky train could be utilised to get people in and out of the centre as opposed to mini vans.
 

Review by:   mandjball,    April 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
It's a good day out and the train ride is a must and good value as was the trip in the longboat - don't bother 'upgrading' for guaranteed seats on the train there were plenty available although it is only a few pounds each. Only drawback is the 3 hour plus bus trip each way from Bangkok.
 

Review by:   jamescjdent,    April 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Well worth doing.
 

Review by:   DAVID T,    April 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
There was a considerable time travelling to and from the River Kwai but I would say it was certainly worth the effort!_br/_ This is an amazing trip which will appeal to all for it's variety and great experiences._br/_ You will be amazed and moved! We loved every minute!!!
 

Review by:   peter R,    April 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Today was a special day, a day to pay respect. What a wonderful way to do it.Thankyou.
 

Review by:   Monnie,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Definitely worth the money we spent and I highly recommend it. The guide was really good with a great personality. While I enjoy traveling around on my own, it was definitely nice not to have to worry about the transportation to and from and be able to relax. The Bridge on the River Kwai was better than I expected and the JEATH Museum was interesting.
 

Review by:   Brian C,    March 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
A long drive from Bangkok, but well worth it. Arriving at the bridge via speed boat was spectacular. The train is old as you would expect and a little uncomfortable, but a great experience. We stopped off at the World War II Commonwealth grave yard, which for me, as an ex-serviceman was very emotional. Lunch was provided at a locally run restaurant, and the food was plentiful and very good. A wonderful tour and well worth it!
 

Review by:   janice.cave,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Excellent tour with a good guide and the train and boat rides on the river were a wonderful experience.
 

Review by:   Michael I,    March 2018 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
Complete waste of a vacation day. I was so excited about this tour based on the great reviews and was blown away at how AWFUL it was. Our tour guide had no information and told us not a single fact about any of the history, it was unbelievable we were not being spoken to. Even during the drive there 2 hours she introduced herself and was a quiet drive all the way up. I had to buy a book from a street vendor to learn about what happened during this time to get details. It was not a tour, but a terrible transportation service with no air conditioning.
 

Review by:   yvonne k,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
This trip was exactly what I expected and more. The tour guide was funny, personable and very knowledgeable on the history of Thailand, the River Kwai, surrounding provinces, vegetation and so much more. He made us feel very comfortable and really tried to ensure that each of us were enjoying our experience. The size of our group was perfect at 7 and we were able to spend enough time at each location without feeling rushed. The food was great at the restaurant and the staff very accommodating. Our driver was very kind and navigated us safely from Bangkok to each of our destinations and back. This is the way to go if you want a hassle free, well organized, fun and informative experience. I will tell my friends and family this trip is a must! The tour guide also does an awesome rendition of Country Roads. :-
 

Review by:   Nadine D,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Excellent tour, well worth the money Tiny was brilliant and funny, even though she was loosing her voice. Excellent day highly recommended.
 

Review by:   Frederick G,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
No surprises as prior reviews had listed the pros and cons correctly. So long as you recognize there is a lot of time on the bus 2.5 -3 hours each way, the tour should fulfill all your expectations. We only had 10 on our tour so lots of room to stretch on the bus and it was very personalized. Our guide Pooi did a great job. We saw larger tour groups who didnt get to take the river boat ride and sat in the regular train seats perhaps no option? so felt our group was a bit more special. All of us upgraded additional 200 baht each for the reserved seats and it was worth it. Luckily the train ran on time sometimes it is late so we all made it back to the hotels before 6:00 which as especially nice. We also visited the Death Museum where you catch the boat so the larger tours didnt do this either. Overall the museum was just ok nothing special but it gave you a good sense of the reality of situation through the real photos you saw of the prisoners conditions. Their conditions were unimaginable. Book this one if you only have a day.
 

Review by:   RitaG,    March 2018 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
This was ok. it was extremely hot. The history is sad so this is emotionally a sad experience. The train had to stop for 45 minutes to get water from a fire truck so this took up a lot f our time and we were stuck on the train in the heat. It was a good experience and good learning.
 

Review by:   W V,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
This was a great tour and not a minute of our time was waisted. The bus was comfortable and our guide Peter, simply a great friendly knowledgeable man.You could ask him anything and he had an answer_br/_ Lunch was great and the trip on the train memorable. The short boat trip was also enjoyable and the visit to the museum will be remembered.
 

Review by:   Alana B,    March 2018 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
This is a long day, however for many including me it was worth it. Overall we had a great day, going to the cemetery, the museum and riding the train on the bridge was moving - we were glad we were able to see it and pay respects. You should be aware that the war museum is very small and extremely basic. Also our tour guide was very funny but not very informative. I witnessed other tour guides providing a lot more historical information throughout the tour walking their clients through the museum, on the train etc.. I suggest taking this tour but with a company who has informative tour guides to get the most out of your day.
 

Review by:   Trevor J,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Although it was a long day with travelling which we knew beforehand it was a very enjoyable outing. Good guide and very informative and treated us as his family. The cemetery was sad and reminded us of the sacrifices made pby so many young people. The bridge, train and boat ride were enjoyable and the food was varied and delicious. Just an outstanding tour and highly recommended. Anyone not enjoying the tour would be hard to please
 

Review by:   uncjrod,    March 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
It is a long bus ride out of the city. But it does you views of the countryside outside Bangkok. There was a stop along the way to freshen up and get snacks. The bus took us to a museum with clippings and photos of the POWs, descriptions of their terrible stay under the harsh Japanese rule which led to many deaths. It was fun taking a speedboat down the river to the bridge. Then we were given a half hour to walk over and around the bridge and take photos. Next, we took a train trip for a half hour or so as I recall and stopped for a nice buffet meal outdoors. I had no problem with mosquitos at all during the trip. I don't know if there just weren't any, but I had put on a wrist band that I bought to keep them away. Last, there was the long bus ride back to the city with lots of traffic once we hit the city. You always question the cost of a tour, but I thought we got to see a lot during the trip.
 

Review by:   Anthony S,    March 2018 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
This tour was not bad but we spent most of our time travelling to and from the bridge its self. It was all a bit of a rush too. When we arrived at the bridge we had about 20minutes before the train came to take us on further. At the end of the train journey we had lunch, a buffet which was at a lovely restaurant with nice staff and the food was good, but yet again we were rushed almost after finishing the meal onto the waiting coach. No time to relax or explore. A bit of a long day with not a lot of time at the different places to enjoy.
 

Review by:   AllyHeadford,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Really enjoyed this tour. The train ride was fun. Paying the extra for a guaranteed seat was very much worth it! Lovely meal in restaurant at the final destinstion._br/_ Amazing to see and read inscription at the war cemetery , bought home the fact that we should be grateful to all those soldiers who faught for our freedom in the war.
 

Review by:   antrimhouse,    February 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Very interesting day it was all very well organised
 

Review by:   Sarah G,    February 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
A long old day, but very much worth it
 

Review by:   manders.neil,    February 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Overall, our family really enjoyed the tour. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgable and spoke decent English. The trip from Bangkok was quite long though - you feel like you end up spending most of the day in the bus. Would recommend but only if you've spent several days in the Bangkok area and are looking to get out. If you have only a few days I'd say skip and do something closer to the city.
 

Review by:   Bonnie A S,    February 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Loved the train ride and long boat ride. The bus to Kanachaburri was very comfortable. The lunch was very good. The guide talked too much about things that did not pertain to the River Kwai. He did not notify us when it was time to get off the train and we almost missed our stop because he was in another train car. We did not need to upgrade. Our train ride was comfortable.
 

Review by:   James M,    December 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
We found this tour extremely fascinating, learning about the history surrounding the bridge. The ride on the boat was exhilarating and the train journey provided some beautiful sights. The lunch was also delicious, we would highly recommend!
 

Review by:   Sally,    December 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
What a terrific tour. Our guide was Jaimey, pronounce Jimmy, and she is female! She was knowledgeable but hard to understand sometimes. Emotional trip to War Cemetery which is well kept and peaceful. Then onto a motorboat up the Kwai River to catch your train. Boat tri was was speedy but too short. Four minutes perhaps?_br/_ The train is an experience. Track runs through middle of local market and people pass over rails as though it is just a path. When train arrives there is a mass of locals and tourists clambering to get a seat. No air conditioning and windows wide open! We managed to get two seats as locals rearranged themselves for us but many people left standing for the 2 hour trip. There is an option to buy a ticket for a tourist carriage and this guarantees a seat. I think it was 20. Journey was exciting and interesting and we had a tasty lunch at local restaurant followed by 3/4 hour bus back to Bangkok. This was the least enjoyable part of the day but cant be avoided.
 

Review by:   Paul P,    December 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to visit the River Kwai! Well worth the money, picked up and dropped off at hotel... lunch provided and great tour guide.
 

Review by:   gaynorsoftley,    December 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
The tour guide was very informative, an amazing experience to pay our respects and one we will never forget. If we ever go again we would make sure we do Hellfire pass.
 

Review by:   Samantha C,    December 2017 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
Really enjoyed the trip, but was very rushed! We appreciated it was a long journey but every place we stopped at was a 10 minute stay._br/_ Guide was very good and so was food, just wished we had longer times at each place.
 

Review by:   Kaylene I,    December 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
This is a very long day with a lot of time spent on the bus, however if you are prepared to do this then it is worth it. The highlight for me was the war cemetery and it was nice to see how well maintained it is. The museum was only a long line of old pictures that will disappear in the heat of the tropics if not better looked after. The short boat trip was fun but our time at the bridge before we caught the train was limited _br/_ The train trip was good, especially over the trestle bridge. The lunch provided was very generous.
 

Review by:   Joseph D,    November 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Very good tour, and a good chance to see some countryside outside of Bangkok. The railway museum tour was, as expected, sobering. The speedboat ride and railway tour were both fun, and we highly recommend you spend the extra few Baht for a reserved seat on the train. Lunch was also fantastic. Appreciated the well-timed rest stops on the long bus ride back.
 

Review by:   Sfbay200307,    November 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
My friend and I really enjoyed this tour. If you saw the movie The Bridge on river Kwai, you would like the experience to walk on the bridge.
 

Review by:   rosa e,    November 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
This tour was amazing!
 

Review by:   Leni.Hester,    November 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Our day tour to the Bridge on the River Kwai began very early with the bus picking us up at 6:15. The bus was not particularly comfortable but the guide was pleasant and this was one of the best of many tours that we have been on. It is a long drive so be prepared, but the tour is worth it. The little museum along the river was a sobering experience, but extremely interesting. The ride on the boat to the bridge was fun, but not comfortable. We sat in the bottom of the boat on a cushion with a hard board across our backs. This might be fine for younger guests, but should be something older people are aware of._br/_ The train ride was wonderful, taking us through lush scenery and beautiful mountain vistas. Stepping onto the train, I felt that we had slipped back in time, with ceiling fans mounted to the ceiling. The windows were open which was wonderfully pleasant. _br/_ During the trip souvenir tickets with our photos were offered but with no pressure and they sold drinks and yummy donuts up and down the cars. I recommend paying the extra 100 bhat for reserved seating._br/_ The restaurant we stopped at for lunch was great and the food was delicious. _br/_ Its a long day but well worth the time. The only downside was we hit terrible traffic in Bangkok and were delayed quite a while getting home, but that is just part of being in Bangkok.
 

Review by:   hellion,    November 2017 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
I'm glad we saw the bridge and had a ride on the railway. Minuses were guide seemed to think toilet breaks were a waste of time. We felt that we held back the group when a few of us raced to the nearest loo at the War Museum. The War Museum needs up-dating - the pictures and paintings are fading and will not be recognisable in a few years - the newspaper articles are unreadable. All artefacts need to be in air-conditioned buildings - they won't last. The longboat ride was good. The train ride was too long. I believe that there are caves somewhere there - but we weren't shown them. The lunch was good - lovely surroundings.
 

Review by:   Barrie P,    November 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Well organised, excellent guide Peter, varied experience with bus, boat train and walks. A long day, 13 hours, but well worth it.
 

Review by:   Shirls,    November 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Great day spent with guide Yellie ?, who spoke decent English and shared lots of information and stories with us._br/_ She was clear with our itinerary for the day, and was attentive to each of the people in her group. I had a great time at the sightseeing spots too. Highly recommended.
 

Review by:   Jennifer T,    November 2017 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
Absolutely fantastic tour ruined by an elephant camp at the end. You'll notice Viator rightly doesn't offer any elephant riding tours on its website because of the cruelty the animals suffer in order for them to be submissive enough to ride. The local operator Viator partnered up with seems to get around this by not declaring it as part of the tour on the website, but stops at an elephant camp on the way back to Bangkok where you can pay extra for a ride.
 

Review by:   jhdwilliams,    November 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Efficient pick up from our hotel in the morning by minibus which took us to a central point to pick up the main coach so some waiting around for others to arrive. Informative guide. Enjoyed the trip to the cemetery but the visit to the JEATH museum was a little rushed so that we could get to the train in time. Loved the speedboat ride up the river towards the bridge where we joined the train. The train was quite quiet that day but would definitely recommend paying to upgrade to get a guaranteed seat, this also included a drink and snack on the train. We then enjoyed a 1.5 hour train ride across the bridge up to the lunch stop. After lunch the coach took us back to the bridge so we could walk across it which was quite emotional. A long day but well worth it and such fantastic history. Would thoroughly recommend this trip.
 

Review by:   Alejandra G,    November 2017 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
The tour was good. We visited places with lot of history. The guide was good also.
 

Review by:   Sandra G,    November 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Was a great day out. Our tour guide spoke very good English and was very knowledgeable. Loved the longboat ride to the Bridge on the River Kwai. The train ride was amazing, beautiful scenery and finished off with a scrumptious lunch. Would definitely recommend!
 

Review by:   Ian H,    November 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
The trip delivered all it set out in the itinerary. The journey out, as previous reviews allude to is long and tedious. Unfortunately this is unavoidably unless you take a private tour that would have more flexibility and possibly comfort. The early start 6:15am, is needed due to heavy Bangkok traffic mid-week especially._br/_ The coach we were on was very old and very tired but as it was not full we had plenty of space to spread out and it got us there and back, although the engine did seem to be labouring at some points...._br/_ The stop at the cementary was very moving as you would expect. The names and location of headstones are available at the entry if you are looking to identify anyone. Very well kept and laid out. Full credit to the war graves commission._br/_ The bridge museum that you visit before taking the speedboat down the river is very basic, however this in someway adds to tour._br/_ The speedboat was a short burst but excellent and offering great photo opportunities of the bridge._br/_ The bridge itself is mobbed.... prepare for lots of tourists..... Walking the length of the bridge taking photos is almost obligatory... due to the crowds you loose some sense of all the suffering that took place so many years ago._br/_ On the train journey I would strongly recommend you pay the extra 100 Bhats each for a relatively comfortable seat, reserved seat. The seats are allocated to you do not need to join the mad scrabble of the unreserved carriages.
 

Review by:   Johanna C,    October 2017 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
Great trip, must do. Very little time to spend at museum, not enough by far. No time to actually walk on the bridge to take photos. They will get you to buy an alloted seat, additional prized, for 200 Baht, company already paid 100 Baht, to ensure seating. Strange that all seats were bought by travellers in fear of standing. Time travelled to and from bridge more than time spend at actual destination. Lovely scenery. Suggest they re plan there trip timings.
 

Review by:   Camilla v,    October 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Full day tour. Only thing I would change would be that we didn't spend that much time at the train station at Kwai nor did we get the time to actually walk across the bridge.
 

Review by:   LOIS B,    October 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
This tour had amazing history and the guide was extremely knowledgeable. I had previously watched the movie Bridge on the River Kwai and when I stood on the bridge the feeling was amazing.
 

Review by:   Lia S,    October 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Long but a great day.
 

Review by:   Hans R v,    October 2017 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
Big disappointment on this tour that we could not walk on the bridge itself and spend more time at the bridge. Now it was more a train ride only with lunch. Museum also was very poor. I remember from my first visit, over 20 years ago, I saw a much more interesting museum.
 

Review by:   Ian Hamilton L,    October 2017 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
Good experience. The train ride was the highlight of the whole trip.
 

Review by:   Kevin w,    October 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Great trip away from the city with friendly guide and driver. A historical railway of great importance that should be visited if you have the interest and the opportunity, also includes the very well kept Allied cemetery.
 

All Traveler Reviews...

USD $68.00
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